Austria earn World Cup win against debutants Jordan

Romano Schmid #18 of Austria celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Austria and Jordan at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Richard HEATHCOTE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Romano Schmid reacts after scoring Austria’s opening goal against Jordan at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, California.   (Getty Images via AFP)

SANTA CLARA: Austria were given a scare by World Cup debutants Jordan on Tuesday before securing a 3-1 win rounded off by a penalty in added time from veteran forward Marko Arnautovic.

The Austrians went ahead at Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco when Romano Schmid produced a brilliant opening goal, smashing in a shot from distance.

Jordan never stopped chasing the game and Ali Olwan’s glancing header nearly put them level before he scored the first World Cup goal in his country’s history — and it was worth the wait.

He cut in and directed a superb right-footed shot Austria ‘keeper past Alexander Schlager and off the post.

Yazan Alarab #5 of Jordan scores an own goal, the second goal for Austria during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Austria and Jordan at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Yazan Al-Arab scored an own goal to hand Austria their second after a goalmouth scramble.  (Getty Images via AFP)

But Austria regained the lead in the 76th minute thanks to an own goal from Yazan al-Arab before 37-year-old former West Ham man Arnautovic added a stoppage-time penalty to make the game safe.

Author: admin